Rate of Plaque Formation and Its Effect on Gingival Health of Children.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the rate of plaque formation and 
retention in children in the deciduous, mixed and 
permanent dentitions and the association between their 
plaque formation and gingival health. 

Methods: Three groups of 33 patients each participated in 
the study and grouped into 4-6 years (primary dentition), 
7-10 years (mixed dentition) and 11-14 years (permanent 
dentition). Gingival health was assessed using the Gingival 
index (GI) by Loe and Silness. Plaque accumulation was 
determined using disclosing tablets and plaque present 
recorded using the O’Leary, Drake and Naylor chart at 
baseline before oral prophylaxis and 24 hours after oral 
prophylaxis. The Plaque Formation Rate Index (PFRI) was 
then used to categorize participants into very low, low, 
moderate, high and very high plaque formers.

Results: The mean plaque index scores before oral 
prophylaxis was 41.8626.99, 50.4025.98 and 
40.7528.59 for deciduous, mixed and permanent 
dentitions respectively, with no statistically significant 
differences between dentition groups and plaque index 
mean scores as determined by one-way ANOVA (F (2,96) = 
1.242, p = 0.293). The mean plaque index score after oral 
prophylaxis was 36.7226.62, 17.1315.39 and 23.8126.74 
for deciduous, mixed and permanent dentitions 
respectively, there was a statistically significant difference 
between scores after oral prophylaxis (F (2,96) = 5.912, p = 
0.004). 
Almost half (48.5%) of the study participants of the 
deciduous dentition group, 6.1% with mixed dentition and 
18.2% with permanent dentition had a very high plaque 
formation rate while 21.2%, 36.4% and 36.4% of 
deciduous, mixed and permanent dentition respectively 
had a very low plaque formation rate (P=0.006). Mild 
gingival inflammation was seen in 87.9%, 54.5% and 57.6% 
of participants in deciduous, mixed and permanent 
dentition groups respectively, while severe inflammation 
was seen in only 9.1% of participants in permanent 
dentition group (P=0.002). The relationship between the 
PFRI and oral hygiene practices was not statistically 
significant. Majority of the participants (64.5%) here with 
very low PFRI score and (70.8%) of those here with very 
high PFRI score had mild gingival inflammation. 

Conclusion: Children with deciduous dentition had a 
higher plaque formation rate, those who had previous oral 
prophylaxis had a lower plaque formation rate and those 
with a higher plaque formation rate had a more severe 
gingival inflammation.